Truck accidents are often the most severe of all motor vehicle accidents since they involve extraordinarily large vehicles that can cause severe and even catastrophic levels of damage. After a truck accident, one may be out of sorts and unsure of what steps to take next. Rest assured, the sooner one can get a seasoned Biloxi truck accident attorney on their side, the easier their claim will be. However, there are several other steps one can take immediately or soon after the wreck that will also help their claim to be successful.

Call 911

The first step after a crash with a large truck is to call 911 to get help on the scene immediately. When the police arrive, be sure to tell them everything you remember in the moments leading up to the accident. It’s crucial to get a copy of the police report, although one typically has to contact the responding agency at a later date to get a completed copy. Police reports contain critical information that a Biloxi truck accident lawyer can use during an investigation of your accident. A police report will typically detail the following types of important information:

  • Involved party identification and statements
  • Witness identification and statements
  • Sketch of the crash scene
  • Contact information for each involved driver
  • Police officer’s professional opinion about who was at fault
  • Photographs

A truck accident attorney can review the report and work with industry experts and accident investigators to help determine who is liable for the wreck. It’s essential to understand that the trucking company’s insurance carrier will likely try to engage in aggressive defense tactics to place the blame for the crash on the victim instead of their truck driver. If this occurs, an experienced attorney will begin with the police report in order to find evidence that establishes the liability of the driver or the trucking company to recover full and fair compensation for the accident victim’s losses.

Collect Evidence at the Scene

Evidence collected from the accident scene is necessary to prove what happened. If the victim or someone else can collect evidence at the scene, the victim can preserve details about what happened and prevent details from being altered or falsified. One should always try to take pictures or videos of the following:

  • Damage to all involved vehicles
  • Tire skid marks
  • Involved vehicles’ license plates
  • The other drivers / passengers conduct after the wreck
  • Other relevant details at the accident scene, which might include weather or road conditions or the spillage of the truck’s cargo
  • Visible physical injuries

In addition, as soon as possible, one should document everything he or she remembers in the moments leading up to the crash, the actual crash, and immediately after the crash. One easy wat to do this is to take notes on a cell phone while still at the scene. Gathering evidence and documenting details can have a major impact on one’s ability to recover full and fair compensation for his or her injuries and damages.  Even if details seem minor or insignificant, it’s always a good idea to write it down or take a picture of every detail related to the crash and resulting damage and injuries. Often, what seek like small details in the moment can have a significant impact on resolving claims.

Seek Medical Attention

Seeking immediate medical attention is imperative after a truck accident. Due to the size and weight disparities between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, truck collisions frequently result in serious or catastrophic injuries, including injuries that might not be immediately obvious. For instance, one could suffer internal injuries like bleeding or organ damage, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other injuries that might not immediately show symptoms but could still be very serious.

By seeking immediate medical attention, the crash victim can obtain an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment to prevent their injuries from worsening or causing other medical or health problems. When the accident victim goes to the emergency room or their physician’s office as soon as possible after the truck accident, they can receive a prompt and accurate diagnosis of their injuries. One should also receive a prognosis of any likely impact on their future. A timely medical report that shows the injuries are directly linked to the accident is also crucial for establishing which injuries and damages were caused by the collision rather than in a subsequent or preexisting condition. The longer one waits to seek medical care, the worse untreated medical conditions can get, and the greater the chances that the legal team for the liable, at fault party will attempt to blame the injuries on something other than the accident.

Follow Medical Advice

In addition to seeking medical attention, it is important for truck wreck victims to  carefully  follow their doctor’s medical advice. This includes filling prescriptions, attending scheduled follow ups, pursuing recommended referrals, and complying with work and activity restrictions. If the insurance company for the other party finds out that the truck crash victim isn’t compliant with prescribed medical care, they can use those inactions as an excuse not to pay full and fair compensation for a claim.

Hire a Skilled Biloxi Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Finally, one should consider retaining a skilled Biloxi truck accident lawyer to handle their claim. A seasoned truck accident lawyer can take over managing the legal case while the crash victim focuses on medical care, and physical and mental recovery.

At Van Cleave Law, we will start by conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine how the accident occurred and who should be held responsible. We seek to find all sources of potential funding for compensation.  The truck accident team at Van Cleave Law is well-versed in the tactics insurance companies play to delay, devalue, or even deny claims. We won’t stand for it, and they know it.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, we provide free case consultations to help determine your next best steps. Call Van Cleave Law today at (228) 432-7826, or contact us online to schedule a confidential, complimentary case consultation with an experienced Biloxi truck accident lawyer.